Virginia Dominates VaSID Swimming & Diving Teams

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams both took four of the five major awards in the 2022 Virginia Sports Information Directors University Division All-State Team.

Matt Brownstead and Kate Douglass earned Swimmers of the Year, Jack Aikins and Gretchen Walsh won Freshmen of the Year, Nicholas Saunders and Lizzy Kaye were named Freshmen Divers of the Year and Todd DeSorbo took both Head Coach of the Year honors.

Brownstead, who’s a five-time All-American, claimed third place in the 50 free at the while also taking fourth in the 100 free at the NCAA meet, as he set program-record marks in both events. He was a member of the fourth-place 400 free relay team and fifth-place 200 free relay group at the NCAA Championships. He was the leadoff swimmer in the 200 free relay that set an American record at the ACC meet. Brownstead also finished fourth in the 50 and 100 free and eighth in the 100 back at the ACC Championships.

Douglass won three individual NCAA titles, as she set the American, NCAA, and US Open records in the 50 Free and the 200 Breaststroke, and the American record in the 100 Fly. The College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Women’s Swimmer of the Year also won four relay NCAA titles, as she was the leadoff swimmer in the 200 and 400 Free Relays and the anchor in the 200 and 400 Medley Relays. The team she led in 400 Free Relay set the American, NCAA, and US Open record.

Aikins, a four-time All-American had a stellar rookie campaign. He won the consolation final to finish in ninth place in the 200 back with a program-record time at the NCAA Championships. Aikins was also part of the team’s fourth-place 400 free relay squad. At the ACC Championships, he was runner up in the 200 back, took sixth in the free and 10th in the 100 back.

Walsh had an incredible freshman season, winning an individual title at the NCAA Championships in the 100 Free and swimming in all four of the Cavaliers’ winning relays. In addition to winning the 100 Free, the seven-time All-American set a UVA record with her time of 46.05. She finished as the runner-up in the 50 Free and 100 Back at the NCAA Championships, as well the 50 and 100 Frees at the ACC Championships.

Saunders finished 18th on the 3-meter and 26th on the 1-meter boards at the NCAA Zone A Championships. At the ACC Championships, he took 24th in the 1-meter event and 27th on the platform. Saunders also scored season-bests in Virginia’s dual-meet win versus North Carolina.

Kaye qualified for the 3-meter and the platform board at the NCAA Championships after finishing second and sixth on the respective boards at the NCAA Zone A Championships. She finished eighth on the 3-meter at the ACC Championships after posting her personal-best score in the prelims with a 320.25. She ranks third all-time at UVA in the 1-meter (305.10), seventh in the 3-meter, and ninth in the platform (228.35).

DeSorbo led Virginia’s women to a second consecutive national title and Virginia’s men to a third consecutive top-10 finish at the NCAA Championships. DeSorbo led a team who won seven individual national titles and four relay titles at the NCAA Championships, as a total of 12 swimmers combined to earn 48 All-America honors. On the men’s side, a total of 10 swimmers combined to earn 27 All-America honors, as UVA earned four top-five finishes.

UVA had seven men earn first team All-State selections and six second team selections, while earning three first team relay honors and two second team.

On the women’s side, the Cavaliers won 13 of 15 individual first team honors and earned first team honors for all five relays. Two individuals earned second team honors.

Full List of VaSID Honors

Men’s First Team All-State

Men’s Second Team All-State

Women’s First Team All-State

 Women’s Second Team All-State